The 21 most memorable scenes of the year
The ever-sleepless staff here at Variety has put together an assemblage of the 21 Most Unforgettable Movie Moments of 2007. The usual suspects are represented: the tracking shot from "Atonement," the Waterloo sequence from "The Bourne Ultimatum," (a damn fine call) the knife fight from "Eastern Promises," etc.For me, one of the scenes that will stick in my mind more than any other is unquestionably the final sequence of "There Will Be Blood." I also found the polar bear fight from "The Golden Compass" to be absolutely thrilling, while the opening action sequence from "The Host" was heart-stopping as well -- and visually creative to boot. "No Country for Old Men," despite being a film whose philosophy rings a little cheaper to me than it does elsewhere int he critical community, is packed with tiny masterpieces of cinematic gold from sequence to sequence, not the least of which is Chigurgh's stalking of Moss in that dingy, dark hotel room.
But if I had to pick a moment that stood head and shoulders above the rest this year, it would have to be the opening train robberty sequence from "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." At once gripping and gorgeous on every level.
Here's what Variety thinks...what about you?
Red Carpet District is Variety contributor Kristopher Tapley's attempt at making sense of the ever-expanding glut of film awards coverage. He's been on the beat for six years. Email 
Without thinking of the omissions, it's actually a very good list. Glad to see mention of that scene in La Vie en Rose.
Posted by: RONALD CRUZ | 1/9/2008 4:47:57 AM
Ditto on the polar bear fight in The Golden Compass. That was 273 kinds of spectacular. Plus Nicole Kidman''s first scene in the same movie. Now that''s an entrance befitting a movie star. There were many scenes I loved in Atonement but the final shot is heartbreaking - & completely satisfying. Same thing for Michael Clayton''s final scene.
Posted by: Sherry | 1/8/2008 7:13:57 PM
How about Zoe Bell riding the roof of the car in Death Proof, or Jean-Dominique''s stroke at the emotional climax of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly? Or the initial interrogation of Arthur Leigh Allen in Zodiac? Or Denzel showing off in front off his family and shooting his rival in the head in broad daylight in American Gangster? The Jesse James scene definitely deserves to be there as well.
I also liked Joaquin''s confrontation at gunpoint with Ruffalo in Reservation Road and the end of Grace Is Gone when Cusack breaks the news to his daughters. Good list but missing a few good ones. And while I didn''t like the movie, I thought Sweeney Todd''s shaving showdown with Pirelli was the best thing in the movie, and Ed Sanders was great in that scene.
Posted by: J-Bug | 1/8/2008 6:08:28 PM
There is no excuse for "Falling Slowly" from Once not being on there. Its exclusion nullifies the rest of the list completely.
Posted by: Drew | 1/8/2008 10:39:41 AM
In my opinion, two scenes that were snubbed from the list were the performance of "Falling Slowly" from "Once" and the assassination of Jesse James in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford."
I would also liked to have seen the final scene of "Juno" in the list. One film that I kind of feel guilty that I enjoyed so immensely was "Disturbia," and the scene in which Kale describes to Ashley the little things he notices about here when he spies on her.
Posted by: Steven | 1/8/2008 6:36:48 AM